Atiyolil: Bold colours will bring a smile to wife’s face
August 30, 2010
Marc Atiyolil
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Q: I am writing to you for help in a delicate matter. My wife has cancer and she is finding the treatment very hard. She has always been tough and has a lot of pride so she is doing her best to put on a happy face for the kids.
I really want to do something special for her to see that pretty smile of hers again. She has always wanted me to repaint our home but I have always refused. The entire house is white walls with white casings. I used to tell her it was the best colour to have as it never goes out of fashion but she wanted bright colours that she could come home to.
I am completely useless when it comes to choosing colours. Can you guide me through this?
A: I am sorry to hear about your wife. In these trying times, I am sure she is grateful to have a husband that is willing to go the extra mile for her. It has been said that laughter is the best medicine and I say we brighten up her world!
As you want this to be somewhat of a surprise, you’ll have to be innovative. She won’t be there to tell you which colour she prefers so we’ll just have to explore her style and taste and go behind enemy lines. Yes, that’s right – her closet.
Now, as you are looking at the line of clothes in her closet, it probably looks like a row of neverending colour. But try to see if there is a common colour: are there at least five to 10 pieces in the same colour? If so, then that is most likely one of her favourites. Jot these colours down on a piece of paper as you’ll refer to these when shopping for paint.
Now look at your wife’s jewellery box. What type of jewellery does she usually wear? Is she the glamorous costume jewelry wearing type or does she prefer simple and elegant? A woman’s jewellery tells a lot about her style and taste. A woman who likes lots of “bling” will love an over-the-top space, but a woman who likes simple jewellery will love a simple and elegant decor. A woman’s jewellery are her accessories, so think of this as you choose accessories to go along with the new colour scheme.
As you have explored the inner world of your wife’s style and taste, you are now ready to tackle the colour scheme. The key here is not to overpower the space. For example, if your wife loves navy blue, and you saw a few yellow dresses in her closet, you can do a mixture of both colours. You can take the most concentrated colour — such as the navy blue — and use it on an accent wall. In layman terms, by accent wall I mean the wall where you would like the eye to be drawn when entering the room. The rest of the walls can be a less intensified colour, such as a light shade of yellow. This way, you get the wonderful colour scheme without finding it overbearing.
Once you have painted the walls, move the furniture and accessories back into the room. Analyze if all the colours go together. If you are having trouble with this, think back to when your wife was wearing that incredible blue dress. Did she wear the grey or brown shoes with it? Ok, now that you have thought about it and failed miserably at remembering the colour of her shoes, this is where her friends come in. Have them come over and check the new colour scheme. Women have a natural eye for colour so they’ll help you with the finishing touches. If your sofa is no longer the right colour, not to worry as you can buy sofa covers. Your wife will love you for it as your sofa will look like new!
As for art pieces, have the kids draw a picture using crayons that work in the colour scheme of the space to show how much they love mom. Once the pictures are done, have them framed with the use of a wide mat and hang them on the wall.
Once you have finished the space down to every detail, it’s now time for the surprise. Have the kids present and explain to mom each of their pictures. She will love the new space and that pretty smile will be seen once again!
Marc Atiyolil is the editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends – Canada’s Home Décor & Lifestyle Magazine. To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.ca.
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